Among countertop appliances, few have such a singular purpose built right into their name as the rice cooker. Easiest way to cook rice? A rice cooker, obviously. Unlike other handy countertop kitchen appliances such as air fryers, blenders and slow cookers, the rice cooker tells you not only what it does, but exactly what you should put in it.
But the name "rice cooker" doesn't tell you everything you can put in it, however. From basic on/off rice cookers to multi-function, fuzzy logic models, rice cookers can indeed do a great deal more than just cook rice. From breakfast to dessert, the rice cooker can support a number of culinary projects and ambitions throughout the day that go way beyond rice.
I queried recipe developers and culinary pros for those preparations where they swear by the rice cooker. With their input, here are 12 ways to use a rice cooker that may surprise you.
1. Other grains
Oatmeal couldn't be easier than when made in a rice cooker. Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images
At its core, a rice cooker cooks rice by relying on a water-to-grain ratio and switching from cook to warm mode once the water has been fully absorbed. To that end, any grain that relies on this method can also be made in the rice cooker, such as quinoa, barley and farro, to name just a few.
Oatmeal is also a grain whose prep can be relegated to the rice cooker, making for a fuss-free breakfast. "A rice cooker is my favorite way to make steel-cut oats because it maintains steady heat and requires zero stirring, which prevents scorching," says Shawna Clark, founder of Healthy Foodie Girl. "I recommend lightly spraying the insert with oil and using the porridge or brown rice setting if available," she says, "since oats foam more than rice and benefit from slower cooking." In that vein, the rice cooker can even be used for a warm overnight oats breakfast, a marked improvement on overnight oats made in the fridge.
2. Savory oats
As a variation on the grain theme, with a little light sautéing that can also be done directly in the rice cooker, savory oats also make for a good rice cooker project. "I'm a savory breakfast gal at heart and this is one of my top three breakfasts," says Farwin Simaak, recipe developer at Love and Other Spices.
If your rice cooker has a sear/sauté function, this is made easier, but even in a conventional rice cooker, you can get onion going for a few minutes for this savory preparation. "Sauté your onion and optional garlic in butter," says Simaak, "and use old-fashioned rolled oats, and broth instead of water for flavor." Once the water has been absorbed and the savory oats are cooked, "serve with poached eggs, a drizzle of chili oil and a sprinkle of chopped green onions," she says.
... continue reading